Sling TV

[artsandletters]

I imagine this has been covered before but please indulge me. I may be making a transition and I'm looking for the best value. I don't have a need for premium channels. I want to see all the PSU games, so ESPN, but wouldn't mind going to a bar to watch the BTN PSU games. I watch some cable news channels. I enjoy TCM. Got a little hooked on some of theHGTV shows but I could do without. FS1 for Villanova basketball. TV Land I sometimes watch.

In other words, my needs aren't great. My question is what service(s) do I need? Just internet? TV also? Cost savings? As we all know, and hate, that we can't create our own bundle of shows to watch is something the monopolies don't allow, at least to my knowledge. Any advice on outfits other than Sling like Playvue (whatever that is) or others would be appreciated. My goal, obviously, is to pay the least and still satisfy my likes as much as possible.

I know many may be weary of hearing about the old days, but all we needed was a TV and an antenna. Electricity was the cost beyond the equipment. Yeah, there's so much more access today. I get it. Now TV/Internet costs are more than monthly payments on the 60s Corvette Sting Rays, the ones everybody wants today.

This old man thanks you for your help.

 

[gamblepsu]

I used to say I can't even dream of switching because of the kids... Now they are a little older and can control the TV themselves and all they want watch is On Demand....

 

[NittPicker]

I've been looking around too and decided Playstation Vue may be best for me. The Core Slim package is $35 and includes the FS channels, the ESPN channels and BTN. You'd also like the fact it includes TCM and HGTV. No History or A&E though if you like them. The cheapest Vue package is $30 but there is no BTN. Trade offs will have to be made no matter which provide or package you choose. Check out Vue's offering below. FYI, you don't need a Playstation unit to get Vue.

https://www.playstation.com/en-us/network/vue/channels/

 

[ChiTownLion]

 

[Plan Ahaed]

If you're strictly looking for sports only then check out YouTube TV - if you're looking for a good group of channels including sports then look at PSVue. The channel options for YouTube TV don't stand up to those offered on PSVue, plus with PSVue you can pay an extra $5 to get all the sports channels you'd need. HGTV, Food Network and Travel Channel are standard on PSVue, but not on YouTube TV as an example.

Check out this site to make your head spin on your options/plans and prices:

https://www.cnet.com/news/directv-now-vs-sling-tv-vs-playstation-vue-channels-compared/

And this one to see YouTube TV

https://www.cnet.com/products/youtube-tv/preview/

 

[ThePennsyOracle]

Sling TV doesn't have BTN.

Get Playstation Vue instead. It has BTN and all the ESPNs.

 

[Rollin Stone]

Just got Sling TV, so far so good. We have both the orange and blue combo package. It is $40 dollars a month, if you paid 3 months up front you can purchase a new Apple TV for $89 (normal $149) which we did because we had an older Apple TV. So now we have the old one in one room and the new one in the main TV Room.

We don't get BTN, but I figured that when PSU is on BTN that's when I would go to a Sports Bar or Buffalo Wild Wings. We also were able to download the ABC app which will get used to watch games on ABC as well as the ESPN App for ESPN3 games. We don't watch a lot of the main cable networks so not a loss there, if anything maybe I will get back to reading more.

We dropped the cable which dropped our bill from $193 to $80. That $80 includes the internet speed upgrade I did since we would now be streaming more video. Sadly, I don't get TCM, I love old movies, Casablanca comes on I'm hooked, but we have Netflix, Showtime App (thinking of dropping), and my wife has Amazon Prime for Downton Abbey and now Sneaky Pete. PBS has an App but doesn't include Downton Abbey, unless someone can point me in the right direction for that.

I'm guessing that after all of the monthly services now we are saving $50-$60 a month. It will be over $60 if we drop the Showtime.

I may feel different when it is football season but right now, so far so good!

 

[artsandletters]

I've been looking around too and decided Playstation Vue may be best for me. The Core Slim package is $35 and includes the FS channels, the ESPN channels and BTN. You'd also like the fact it includes TCM and HGTV. No History or A&E though if you like them. The cheapest Vue package is $30 but there is no BTN. Trade offs will have to be made no matter which provide or package you choose. Check out Vue's offering below. FYI, you don't need a Playstation unit to get Vue.

https://www.playstation.com/en-us/network/vue/channels/

Is VUE transmitted through an Internet connection? I mean, how does it get to the TV? I'm laughing at myself cause I don't understand this tech world at all and am at a loss for the proper language.

 

[mcm265]

I prefer PS Vue. Have had it for over 6 months. Very happy customer - not a single complaint (so far). I've heard that Sling is a bit cheaper but bare bones in it's basic package.

 

[ThePennsyOracle]

Is VUE transmitted through an Internet connection? I mean, how does it get to the TV? I'm laughing at myself cause I don't understand this tech world at all and am at a loss for the proper language.

LOL

I'd recommend doing some Googling and trying to learn/understand--that'll make all the difference.

PS Vue is an internet TV service just like Sling TV. It offers more sports channels, including BTN for about the same price or less.

Otherwise, get as fast of an internet connection as you can afford and don't cheap out on a router at home. Get a Netgear Nighthawk so your network can handle multiple streams at once.

 

[getmyjive11]

Is VUE transmitted through an Internet connection? I mean, how does it get to the TV? I'm laughing at myself cause I don't understand this tech world at all and am at a loss for the proper language.

Yes. You will need to get a streaming media player to use Vue (or any other streaming service) on your TV. Right now, the best streaming media player for the Vue is the Amazon Fire TV for $89.00. You can orde them at amazon.com or buy one through Target or Best Buy. I would go through Amazon because they are currently back logged by a couple of weeks.

After getting the Fire TV, you should hook it up to your router directly via network cable. It does work with wifi but the connection will be better hard wired. The box then connects to your TV via HDMI cable.

Once everything is set up, sign up for Vue on their website and then download the vue app onto your Fire TV box. Open it, enter your account info and you are now ready to use it. Vue comes with a guide just like the cable company. It also has unlimited DVR which will save shows for 28 days.

 

[jabba2]

I tried Sling around 15 months ago and the bandwidth at peak hours was unwatchable. Cancelled it.

 

[artsandletters]

LOL

I'd recommend doing some Googling and trying to learn/understand--that'll make all the difference.

PS Vue is an internet TV service just like Sling TV. It offers more sports channels, including BTN for about the same price or less.

Otherwise, get as fast of an internet connection as you can afford and don't cheap out on a router at home. Get a Netgear Nighthawk so your network can handle multiple streams at once.

So, I get a good, fast Internet connection, contact VUE, pay them, and suddenyl their programming ends up on my TV? I use Comcast or Verizon for the connection and go to VUE from there? Brave new world out there.

How many of those mpbs will I need? Is 10 enough? 25? More? Haha, laughing at myself again.

 

[ThePennsyOracle]

So, I get a good, fast Internet connection, contact VUE, pay them, and suddenyl their programming ends up on my TV? I use Comcast or Verizon for the connection and go to VUE from there? Brave new world out there.

How many of those mpbs will I need? Is 10 enough? 25? More? Haha, laughing at myself again.

Read this--it explains a lot about how it all works.

http://www.stltoday.com/entertainme...cle_e8a9dd76-3117-5dcd-852d-031971fb162b.html

It would be helpful to know how:

- How many people are in your household, how many smartphones, laptops/tablets/computers, and any other internet connected devices you have in the house?

- What type of area do you live in? Do you have a lot of neighbors, or are you out in the sticks?

- Who are the main high speed internet providers in your area (i.e. cable and DSL)?

Answers to the above are a good jumping off point for recommendations.

 

[PennSt8er]

DIRECTV now has a pure online option too.

 

[Steviedpsu]

I have a 5 gig connection and I could watch PSVUE, 2 kids on Netflix and my wife teaching online classes with no problems.

I started with Sling, but you could only watch on 1 tv. Plus it was a pain going to the local sports bar to watch the games on BTN. They both offer a trial period for a week. I use a Roku to stream it.

 

[getmyjive11]

So, I get a good, fast Internet connection, contact VUE, pay them, and suddenyl their programming ends up on my TV? I use Comcast or Verizon for the connection and go to VUE from there? Brave new world out there.

How many of those mpbs will I need? Is 10 enough? 25? More? Haha, laughing at myself again.

You should have at least 10. VUE will use anywhere from 3-5.

 

[Plan Ahaed]

My back hurts so I'm going to let Pennsy do the heavy lifting in this thread. Follow the links that he shared and you'll be good to go. My only input is that after you've done your research on SlingTV/PSVue/DirecTV Now/YouTube TV you'll most likely wind up with PSVue as the best option.

- SlingTV stinks during peak hours as others have said - I had that first before going to PSVue.
- DirecTV has good channel options - but you're limited to watching on only two devices at the same time. Plus since they're owned by At&t I'm predicting that prices will rise year after year.
- YouTube TV doesn't have good channel options for the price compared to the other options as I mentioned in my last post.

Good luck and welcome to the "cord" cutting cult.

 

[ThePennsyOracle]

DIRECTV now has a pure online option too.

Which is a definite NO.

The rollout and service has been disastrous.

 

[PennSt8er]

Which is a definite NO.

The rollout and service has been disastrous.

Glad to know. I was looking at making that switch.